Book page holder

ABSTRACT

An elongated rigid support member generally cylindrical in cross-sectional shape and having a pair of clothespin-type clamps mounted thereon with the support member slidingly and rotatably received through the coiled portions of the butterfly springs of the clamps. The jaw ends of the clamps poject outwardly from the same side of the support member and are to perform the funtion of clampingly engaging the pages of an open book to and in position overlying the front and back covers of the book. In addition, one form of the invention invulves an elongated book binding brace projecting outwardly of the same side of the elongated support member from which the jaw ends of the clamps project and underlies the outer surface of the bookbinding in a manner bowing the latter in the area of the open pages of the book thereby rendering the inner marginal edge portions of the open pages more easily readable.

United Stes Tjernlund et a1.

[ 51 ,lnne5,1973

[541 BOOK PAGE HOLDER [22] Filed: Sept. 20, 1971 [21] Appl. N01: 181,860

[52] US. Cl. ..28l/42, 24/67.5, 24/81 AG [51] Int. Cl. ..B42d 9/00 [58] Field of Search ..28l/42; 24/675,

24/67.7, 67.9, 67.11, 81 AG, 81 AB, 81 PC, 81AD, 81 GS; 116/1 19; 223/96 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 239,960 3/1946 Switzerland ..28l/42 29,021 6/1964 Germany ..223/96 Primary Examiner-Jerome Schnall Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT An elongated rigid support member generally cylindrical in cross-sectional shape and having a pair of Clothespin-type clamps mounted thereon with the support member slidingly and rotatably received through the coiled portions of the butterfly springs of the clamps. The jaw ends of the clamps poject outwardly from the same side of the support member and are to perform the funtion of clampingly engaging the pages of an open book to and in position overlying the front and back covers of the book. In addition, one form of the invention invulves an elongated book binding brace projecting outwardly of the same side of the elongated support member from which the jaw ends of the clamps project and underlies the outer surface of the bookbinding in a manner bowing the latter in the area of the open pages of the book thereby rendering the inner marginal edge portions of the open pages more easily readable.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUH SIBYS SHEET 10F 2 20 24 Donald F. Hem/and V Derrick M. Hem/0nd INVIENTOKS By m.

PA-TENTEDJUH 5:915

SHEET 2 OF 2 Donald F Uem/und Derrick M. Uem/und l N VENTORS BY WWW MW.

BOOK PAGE HOLDER The book page holder of the instant invention has been primarily designed to provide a means whereby various types of books including hardback books and softback books may be read. The book page holder serves to maintain the open pages of the book in substantially coplanar relation for full viewing of all the printed material thereon by the reader and as each page disposed on the right side of the book is read, it may readily be disengaged from the corresponding clamp, turned and reengaged under the left side clamp.

The book page holder is adjustable whereby it may be utilized in conjunction with books of varying sizes and is particularly well adopted for use in conjunction with soft or paperback books.

The main object of this invention is to provide a book page holder which will be capable of holding the desired pages of a book in open position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a book page holder in accordance with the preceding object and constructed in a manner whereby it may be utilized in conjunction with not only hardback books but also soft or paperback books.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a book page holder that will also serve the function of bracing an associated softback book for supporting the latter in substantially planar condition when the book is open.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a book page holder which is adjustable and may be utilized in conjunction with books of various sizes.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a book page holder in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long-lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an open paperback book with the book page holder of the instant invention operatively associated therewith;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the book holder illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view ofa second form of book page holder operatively associated with a paperback book;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 55 of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the book page holder of FIG. 4 with the book removed.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a paperback book including a front cover 12, a rear cover 14 and a plurality of pages 16 joined along the back edge of the book 10 by means ofa binding 18.

The book page holder of the instant invention is referred to in general by the reference numeral 20 and includes an elongated substantially rigid support rod or member 22 which is circular in cross-sectional shape and includes opposite end portions bent to form eyes 24 on the opposite ends of the support member 22. A pair of clamps 26 each including a pair of levers 28 and 30 are mounted on the support member 22 and slidable therealong as will be hereinafter apparent.

The levers 28 and 30 of each clamp 26 include opposing notches 32 and 34 formed in their mid-portions and extending transversely thereof between which the coiled central portion 36 of a butterfly spring 38 including angulated opposite end portions 40 and 42 are embracingly and clampingly engaged. The end portions 40 and 42 are seated in grooves 44 and 46 formed in the remote sides of the levers 28 and 30 and the latter are thereby spring biased toward positions relatively oscillatably supported from the coiled center portion 36 of the butterfly spring 38. The levers 28 and 30 include corresponding jaw ends 48 and 50 and corresponding handle ends 52 and 54, respectively. The jaw ends 48 and 50 are yieldingly biased toward abutting engagement with each other and therefore are adapted to clampingly engage a plurality of pages 16 of the book 10 therebetween in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

In operation, the book page holder 20 may be engaged with the book 10 in the manner illustrated in FIG. ll of the drawings with the book 10 and the holder 20 resting upon the support surface 58. Then, as the left-hand page in FIG. 1 is read, the reader may then proceed to read the right-hand page. As the reader approaches the end of the right-hand page 16, the reader may use his left hand to apply downward pressure to the handle end 52 of the left-hand clamp 26 while simultaneously applying pressure to the upper right-hand corner of the right-hand page 16 with the index finger or thumb (perhaps slightly moistened) in order to slide the upper right-hand corner of the right-hand page 16 from beneath the jaw end 48 of the right-hand clamp 26. Thereafter, finger pressure on the handle end 52 of the upper lever 28 may be released from the right-hand clamp 26 and applied to the handle end 52 of the upper lever 28 of the right-hand clamp 26 while the right hand of the reader is utilized to swing the last read page 16 over to the left-hand side of the book 10 with his hand overlying the page and utilized to slip the upper left-hand corner of the turned page beneath the jaw end 48 of the left-hand clamp 26. In this manner, successive pages 16 may be turned.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 4 through 6 of the drawings, there may be seen a modified form of book page holder referred to in general by the reference numeral 20' and which includes substantially the same (or an equivalent) structure as the book page holder 20. The components of the holder 20' corresponding to the various components of the holder 20 are designated by similar prime reference numerals. However, instead of being provided with eyes, such as the eyes 24, the opposite ends of the support member 22' of the holder 20' are provided with sleeve enlargements 24 to prevent the clamps 26' from sliding off the opposite ends of the support member 22:.

The book page holder 20', however, includes a bookbinding anchor and abutment in the form of an elongated arm member which extends outwardly of the same side of the support member 22 from which the jaw ends 48' and 50' of the clamp 26' project. The base end of the arm member 60 is coiled once about the support member 22', as at 62, and then projects outwardly of the other side of the support member 22', as at 64, curved upwardly as at 66, and then extends longitudinally of the support member 22: as at 68. Thereafter, the extended end of the arm member bends downwardly as at 70 and back inwardly toward the support member as at 72 and is again coiled once about the support member 22' as at 74. The support member 22' is rotatably and slidably received through the two coiled portions 62 and 74 and the free end of the arm member 60 remote from the support member 22: is bent back upon itself as at 76 and includes a return terminal end 78 having a sleeve 80 disposed thereon. The sleeve 80 is frictionally but rotatably mounted on the end 78 and the end 78 is the adjacent free end of the arm member 60 are disposed in a plane inclined approximately 45 relative to the plane in which the arm members 60 and support member 22' are disposed. Accordingly, when the book and book page holder are disposed in the position illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the end 78 and sleeve 80 are elevated relative to the surface upon which the book 10 is rested and therefore upwardly deflect the binding 18 whereby the inner marginal edge portions of the pages 16 are positioned for easier reading by the user of the book page holder 20:. Of course, the manner of attachment of the arm member 60 to the support member 22: prevents angular displacement of the arm member 60 about its longitudinal axis relative to the associated book 10 and thus the end 78 and sleeve 80 are operative, at substantially all times, to upwardly deflect the bookbinding 18 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings. Therefore, the book page holder 20' is operative in substantially the same manner as the holder 18 and further includes structure by which to engage and upwardly deflect the binding 18 of the book 10.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A book page holder comprising an elongated support member, a pair of spring closed clamp members projecting and opening outwardly of one side of said support member and adapted to clampingly engage the front and rear covers and adjacent pages of a book therebetween, an elongated bookbinding brace carried by said support member and projecting outwardly of the side thereof outwardly from which said clamp members project, said brace being adapted to be received beweeen the rear cover of an associated book and the adjacent rear page of the book closely adjacent the binding and being provided with a reversely bent outer end portion terminating in a reversely directed end spaced from and generally paralleling the outer end of the brace, said reversely directed end being positionable along the outer surface of the binding of the associated book in order to upwardly deflect the binding between the open pages of the book, said reversely directed end and said brace being disposed, generally, in a plane inclined approximately 45 relative to a plane generally paralleling said support member and brace, and said brace being supported from said support member against angular displacement about an axis extending along said brace. I

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said clamp members are slidably mounted on said support member for adjustable shifting longitudinally therealong.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said clamp members are rotatably mounted on said support member for adjustable angular positioning about the longitudinal axis of said support member.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said clamp members are slidably mounted on said support member for adjustable shifting longitudinally therealong, the opposite ends of said support member including abutments carried thereby to prevent said clamp members from sliding off the ends of said support member.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said clamp members comprise-clothespin-type clamps including corresponding pairs of lever members joined intermediate their opposite ends by means of a butterfly spring including a coiled central portion through which said elongated support member is slidably and rotatably received.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said reversely directed end includes a sleeve frictionally and rotatably mounted thereon.

7. A book page holder comprising an elongated support member, a pair of spring closed clamp members projecting and opening outwardly of one side of said support member and adapted to clampingly engage the front and rear covers and adjacent pages of a book therebetween, an elongated bookbinding brace carried by said support member and projecting outwardly of the side thereof outwardly from which said clamp members project, said brace being adapted to be re ceived between the rear cover of an associated book and the adjacent rear page of the book closely adjacent the binding and being provided with a reversely bent outer end portion terminating in a reversely directed end spaced from and generally paralleling the outer end of the brace, said reversely directed end being positionable along the outer surface of the'binding of the associated book in order to upwardly deflect the binding between the open pages of the book, said reversely directed end including a sleeve frictionally and rotatably mounted thereon, said reversely directed end and the adjacent end of said brace being disposed in a plane inclined generally 45 relative to the plane containing said support member and said brace, said brace being mounted on said support member for slidable adjustment therealong and against angular displacement about its longitudinal axis relative to said support member.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said clamp members comprise clothespin-type clamps including corresponding pairs of lever members joined intermediate their opposite ends by means of a butterfly spring including a coiled central portion through which said elongated support member is slidably and rotatably received. 

1. A book page holder comprising an elongated support member, a pair of spring closed clamp members projecting and opening outwardly of one side of said support member and adapted to clampingly engage the front and rear covers and adjacent pages of a book therebetween, an elongated bookbinding brace carried by said support member and projecting outwardly of the side thereof outwardly from which said clamp members project, said brace being adapted to be received beweeen the rear cover of an associated book and the adjacent rear page of the book closely adjacent the binding and being provided with a reversely bent outer end portion terminating in a reversely directed end spaced from and generally paralleling the outer end of the brace, said reversely directed end being positionable along the outer surface of the binding of the associated book in order to upwardly deflect the binding between the open pages of the book, said reversely directed end aNd said brace being disposed, generally, in a plane inclined approximately 45* relative to a plane generally paralleling said support member and brace, and said brace being supported from said support member against angular displacement about an axis extending along said brace.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said clamp members are slidably mounted on said support member for adjustable shifting longitudinally therealong.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said clamp members are rotatably mounted on said support member for adjustable angular positioning about the longitudinal axis of said support member.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said clamp members are slidably mounted on said support member for adjustable shifting longitudinally therealong, the opposite ends of said support member including abutments carried thereby to prevent said clamp members from sliding off the ends of said support member.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said clamp members comprise clothespin-type clamps including corresponding pairs of lever members joined intermediate their opposite ends by means of a butterfly spring including a coiled central portion through which said elongated support member is slidably and rotatably received.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said reversely directed end includes a sleeve frictionally and rotatably mounted thereon.
 7. A book page holder comprising an elongated support member, a pair of spring closed clamp members projecting and opening outwardly of one side of said support member and adapted to clampingly engage the front and rear covers and adjacent pages of a book therebetween, an elongated bookbinding brace carried by said support member and projecting outwardly of the side thereof outwardly from which said clamp members project, said brace being adapted to be received between the rear cover of an associated book and the adjacent rear page of the book closely adjacent the binding and being provided with a reversely bent outer end portion terminating in a reversely directed end spaced from and generally paralleling the outer end of the brace, said reversely directed end being positionable along the outer surface of the binding of the associated book in order to upwardly deflect the binding between the open pages of the book, said reversely directed end including a sleeve frictionally and rotatably mounted thereon, said reversely directed end and the adjacent end of said brace being disposed in a plane inclined generally 45* relative to the plane containing said support member and said brace, said brace being mounted on said support member for slidable adjustment therealong and against angular displacement about its longitudinal axis relative to said support member.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said clamp members comprise clothespin-type clamps including corresponding pairs of lever members joined intermediate their opposite ends by means of a butterfly spring including a coiled central portion through which said elongated support member is slidably and rotatably received. 